Andrews secures standard with hometown support

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Robby Andrews did it in New York.

After winning the USATF Championship in the 1,500 meters June 24 in 3 minutes, 43.29 seconds, Andrews has hunted a qualifying standard (3:36.00) for the IAAF World Championships in London.

After failing to obtain it at the TrackTown Summer series July 2 in Portland, Ore., the TrackTown Series Championship at Icahn Stadium provided a sterling opportunity Thursday for redemption.

Beneath the lights at Icahn, amid swells of crowds that encroached the track in Lane 5, Andrews, whose family is originally from Staten Island, went for it. Representing the San Francisco Surge, Andrews grappled with Johnny Gregorek and Kyle Merber leading up to a frenzied, down-to-the-wire finish.

Gregorek came through first in 3:35.00, then Andrews in 3:35.25, followed by Ben Blankenship in 3:35.29. Andrews was immediately swallowed up by the crowd at the finish, youngsters with green #TeamRobby shirts from his hometown of Manalapan, N.J., and professional runners who simply wanted to share the moment.

"I was happy with everything," Andrews said. "We had such a great run, with Johnny and Kyle with 400 to go. I just kept telling myself, 'Stick on it, stick on it, stick on it.'"

With Andrews' mother and his father, Bob, a former runner at the University of Pennsylvania (and longtime coach at Curtis High on Staten Island) on hand, there were plenty of hugs and tears to go around.

And with those eponymous #TeamRobby shirts, it felt like part of a movement.

"His father coached on Staten Island, where I'm from, at Curtis High School and I coached at McKee Tech," said Will Cicoria, who now lives in Manalapan, N.J.

"Six years ago his father and I founded a track club in Manalapan called 'Gone Running' for kids from kindergarten to high school.

"When we were running our first year, we had a parade for Robby in Manalapan. That's where we made these shirts. ... He officiates at our meets. He'd come to our meets and shoot the gun. He's such a great role model."

Kids, athletes, coaches, spectators unite

With the pre-dusk sky stretched across the horizon, and the skyline of upper Manhattan as a backdrop, the boys and girls high school miles set the tone for the TrackTown series in New York. "Sweet Home Alabama" swooned on the loudspeakers. Somebody shook a cow bell.

As the boys runners, aged 10-14, flew down the homestretch, dozens of fans -- many presumably parents -- stood and roared as Owen Hassler of Brooklyn's Prospect Park Track Club won in 4:45.77.

What happened next typified the interaction between young athletes and the professionals at the meet. After finishing 11th in the boys mile in 5:30.41, Jelani Johnson of the Queens-based Metro Eagles (who'll be a seventh grader in the fall), leaned over the railing to get the attention of New York Empire GM Allyson Felix.

"Hi, Allyson," Johnson said softly.

Felix, who was incredibly gracious the entire night, shared a selfie with Johnson. That type of mingling went on all night between fans and athletes, college coaches, high school coaches, high school athletes and reporters. By the time the public announcer invited the crowd to the track for the men's 1,500, one of the events, the bond between spectator and athlete had been well-established. It was one of the reasons this meet was a success.

High jumpers bring high energy

The high jumpers brought and shared massive amounts of energy with the crowd.

Deante Kemper of the Philadelphia Force (third with 7 feet 2.50 inches) primped in front of the crowd encircling the jumps area. The San Francisco Surge's Inika McPherson (first at 6-2.75), high-fived spectators as she performed. Later, she teamed with three New York Empire athletes to lead an impromptu dance session near the DJ's tent.

"I think it's going to bring an acknowledgement to the sport," said McPherson of the TrackTown Series. "There's a lot of kids coming up. Why not show them some of the elite runners?"

Men, women share track in 3,000 

The 3,000 meters brought out another fun wrinkle for the crowd.

The women's 3,000-meter field, after nearly a lap lead, ran at the same time as the men. As a result, Paul Chelimo, Lopez Lomong and others led a chase pack after the women.

"A lot of the guys thought they were going to get the ladies but they really ran fast," said the New York Empire's Tommy Curtin, who won the 5-kilometer Road Race in 14.11.90.

 The New York Empire made sure that didn't happen, with Stephanie Garcia (8:52.74) and Nicole Tully (8:54.28) running 1-2, followed by Marisa Howard of the San Francisco Surge (8:57.15).

Chelimo, representing the Portland Pulse (7:47.96) and Lomong, also of the Pulse (7:48.77), led the men's finishers.

Sprinters add praise for NY crowd

The TrackTown Series in New York blended in youth races, like the 100 meters, to capture the attention of the crowd. After Mike Rodgers of the New York Empire won the men's 100 in 10.15, the boys and girls 100 races that followed were equally frenzied.

"The New York crowd is amazing," said Tawanna Meadows, who won the women's 100 for the Philadelphia Force in 11.16. "This is my first time being here for a few days and I definitely love it."

Added second-place women's 100 finisher Barbara Pierre (11.20): "It's the biggest crowd we've had (in the TrackTown Summer Series)."

Soukup focused on hurdles

Janay Soukup, who won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics in the long jump (and was also a member of the U.S. team in 2016), has decided to focus this year on the hurdles.

Soukup, representing the Philadelphia Force, ran a PR 12.83 to finish second to Queen Harrison (12.75).

"I'm going to focus on hurdles just for this year," said Soukup, who is based in Fort Collins, Colo.

"I needed a break. With the long jump my body has taken so much pounding. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do both events."

While Soukup sees a natural crossover in the jumps and hurdles, it's been a major transition.

"It's the first year I've actually just hurdled," Soukup said. "It's basically a whole new program. Changing from something you've done the past four years, it's a major adjustment."

The native Alaskan, following her PR on Thursday, is confident about her place among American hurdlers.

 "I know that because I've run 12.8 so many times that I can run faster," Soukup said. "I feel like I can run with the USA girls."